Opportunity Information: Apply for L12AS00014
Apply for L12AS00014
- The Bureau of Land Management in the environment information and statistics natural resources sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Rio Chama Flow Optimization" and is now available to receive applicants.
- Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 15.231 Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management.
- This funding opportunity was created on Apr 6, 2012 and posted on Apr 6, 2012.
- Applicants must submit their applications by May 2, 2012. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
- The funding agency has allocated a total of $100,000.00 to eligible and selected applicants.
- Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $100,000.00 in funding.
- The number of recipients for this funding is limited to 1 candidate(s).
- Eligible applicants include: Unrestricted (i.e., open to any type of entity above), subject to any clarification in text field entitled Additional Information on Eligibility.
- All eligible applications will be accepted and reviewed
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Opportunity Summary:
The Rio Chama Flow Optimization grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L12AS00014) was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding program offered through a cooperative agreement to support a technical and stakeholder-driven effort to improve how river flows are managed on the Rio Chama. The central purpose was to develop a defensible river flow model that can identify flow ranges that simultaneously support whitewater rafting recreation, sustain a viable fishery, and still meet the needs of downstream water users. In other words, the project was designed to reduce conflict among competing water demands by using science-based modeling and collaborative planning to define flow targets that work for multiple interests.
A major deliverable under this opportunity was a System Optimization Study Report. This report was expected to lay out a scientifically determined environmental flow regime for the Rio Chama and then adjust or tune that regime to optimize overall hydrologic system performance. The emphasis was not only on determining what flows are ecologically appropriate, but also on shaping an operationally realistic set of recommendations that multiple water users on the Rio Chama could agree to. This implies a blend of hydrology, ecology, and practical water management considerations, with an explicit requirement for engagement across different stakeholder groups to reach workable consensus.
The scope of work called for scientific analysis of both physical and biological attributes of the river system. On the physical side, the project needed to include channel cross-section analysis, which typically involves characterizing river geometry and how different discharges translate into depths, velocities, wetted width, and habitat availability across key reaches. On the biological and riparian side, the opportunity specifically referenced riparian vegetation analysis, pointing to an expectation that the recipient would evaluate how flow patterns influence streamside vegetation condition, recruitment, and overall river corridor function. Because the project also needed to maintain a viable fishery, biological analysis would reasonably be expected to address fish habitat requirements as they relate to flow magnitude, timing, and variability, alongside considerations like temperature, connectivity, and habitat complexity where supported by available data.
BLM anticipated making a single award under this opportunity, with an estimated total funding amount of $100,000. The award ceiling was $100,000 and the award floor was $10,000, with no cost sharing or matching requirement. The funding activity category was listed under Environment as well as Information and Statistics and Natural Resources, and the program was associated with CFDA 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management). Eligibility was unrestricted in the sense that applications were open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the full announcement), and all eligible applications were to be accepted and reviewed.
Key dates show the announcement was posted on April 6, 2012, with an original closing date of May 1, 2012, later extended to May 2, 2012, and archived on May 1, 2013. The cooperative agreement structure indicates BLM expected to have substantial involvement during the project, which often means coordination on technical direction, access to relevant datasets or site knowledge, and alignment with broader management objectives for the river corridor.
Finally, the announcement highlighted the need for expertise not only in the technical analyses and modeling, but also in community outreach specific to the Rio Chama. That outreach component suggests the recipient needed the capacity to communicate modeling results in plain language, convene or participate in stakeholder discussions, and translate scientific findings into an environmental flow recommendation set that can be implemented and supported by the river’s multiple user groups. For applicants at the time, the point of contact listed was Charise P. Saiz at BLM (505-761-8725, csaiz@blm.gov).
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs): Rio Chama Flow Optimization (Funding Opportunity Number L12AS00014)
What is the Rio Chama Flow Optimization grant opportunity?
The Rio Chama Flow Optimization grant opportunity (Funding Opportunity Number L12AS00014) was a Bureau of Land Management (BLM) discretionary funding program offered through a cooperative agreement. It supported a technical and stakeholder-driven effort to improve how river flows are managed on the Rio Chama.
What was the main purpose of this funding opportunity?
The central purpose was to develop a defensible river flow model that could identify flow ranges that simultaneously support whitewater rafting recreation, sustain a viable fishery, and still meet the needs of downstream water users. The overall aim was to reduce conflict among competing water demands by using science-based modeling and collaborative planning to define flow targets that work for multiple interests.
What kind of agreement mechanism was used (grant vs. cooperative agreement)?
The opportunity was offered through a cooperative agreement. This indicates BLM expected substantial involvement during the project (for example, coordination on technical direction, access to relevant datasets or site knowledge, and alignment with broader management objectives for the river corridor).
How many awards did BLM expect to make?
BLM anticipated making a single award under this opportunity.
How much funding was available?
The estimated total funding amount was $100,000. The award ceiling was $100,000 and the award floor was $10,000.
Was cost sharing or matching required?
No. The opportunity stated there was no cost sharing or matching requirement.
What was the expected major deliverable?
A major deliverable was a System Optimization Study Report. This report was expected to lay out a scientifically determined environmental flow regime for the Rio Chama and then adjust or tune that regime to optimize overall hydrologic system performance.
What does "System Optimization Study Report" mean in the context of this opportunity?
Based on the description, the report was expected to do two things: (1) identify an environmental flow regime supported by scientific analysis, and (2) refine that flow regime into a set of operationally realistic recommendations that could be agreed to by multiple water users on the Rio Chama. The emphasis was on both ecological appropriateness and practical implementability.
What outcomes was the project trying to balance?
The project was designed to identify flow ranges that can support three major objectives at the same time: whitewater rafting recreation, a viable fishery, and downstream water user needs. The overall intent was to reduce conflicts by defining flow targets that serve multiple interests.
What kinds of technical work were included in the scope?
The scope called for scientific analysis of both physical and biological attributes of the river system. Specifically referenced elements included channel cross-section analysis (a physical characterization of river geometry and how discharge translates into depths, velocities, wetted width, and habitat availability) and riparian vegetation analysis (evaluation of how flow patterns influence streamside vegetation condition, recruitment, and overall river corridor function).
What is channel cross-section analysis, as described in the announcement?
The announcement described channel cross-section analysis as characterizing river geometry and how different discharges translate into depths, velocities, wetted width, and habitat availability across key reaches.
What did the opportunity say about riparian vegetation analysis?
The opportunity specifically referenced riparian vegetation analysis, indicating an expectation that the recipient would evaluate how flow patterns influence streamside vegetation condition, recruitment, and overall river corridor function.
Did the project need to address fishery needs?
Yes. The purpose statement explicitly included sustaining a viable fishery as one of the objectives the flow model needed to support.
What role did stakeholder engagement and outreach play?
Stakeholder engagement was an explicit part of the approach. The effort was described as technical and stakeholder-driven, with an expectation of engagement across different stakeholder groups to reach workable consensus. The announcement also highlighted the need for community outreach specific to the Rio Chama, including communicating modeling results in plain language, convening or participating in stakeholder discussions, and translating scientific findings into an environmental flow recommendation set that multiple user groups can support.
What does it mean that the flow model needed to be "defensible"?
Within the description provided, "defensible" indicates the model and resulting flow recommendations were expected to be science-based and credible enough to support decision-making among competing demands (recreation, fishery sustainability, and downstream water uses).
What was the primary problem this project aimed to solve?
The project aimed to reduce conflict among competing water demands on the Rio Chama by using science-based modeling and collaborative planning to define flow targets that work for multiple interests.
What were the funding activity categories associated with this opportunity?
The funding activity category was listed under Environment, Information and Statistics, and Natural Resources.
What CFDA program was this associated with?
The program was associated with CFDA 15.231 (Fish, Wildlife and Plant Conservation Resource Management).
Who was eligible to apply?
Eligibility was described as unrestricted in the sense that applications were open to any type of entity (subject to any clarifications in the full announcement). The opportunity indicated that all eligible applications would be accepted and reviewed.
When was the opportunity posted and when did it close?
The announcement was posted on April 6, 2012. The original closing date was May 1, 2012, and it was later extended to May 2, 2012.
When was the opportunity archived?
The opportunity was archived on May 1, 2013.
Who was the point of contact listed for applicants?
The point of contact listed was Charise P. Saiz at BLM. The phone number provided was (505-761-8725) and the email provided was csaiz@blm.gov.
What expertise did the announcement suggest would be important for the recipient?
The announcement highlighted the need for expertise in technical analyses and modeling as well as community outreach specific to the Rio Chama. That includes the capacity to communicate modeling results in plain language, participate in or convene stakeholder discussions, and translate scientific findings into implementable environmental flow recommendations supported by multiple user groups.
What was unique about the project approach described?
The approach blended hydrology, ecology, and practical water management considerations with an explicit requirement for stakeholder engagement, with the goal of producing flow recommendations that are both scientifically grounded and operationally realistic for multiple water users.
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| Reasonable Foreseeable Development for Northern New Mexico BLM Apply for L12AS00291 Funding Number: L12AS00291 Agency: Bureau of Land Management Category: Environment Information and Statistics Natural Resources Funding Amount: $700,000 |
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